Skateboarders Pushing For Ramp

A skateboard ramp in Greater Fort Lauderdale. Built for public use, for the skaters who have been searching for a place to pursue their favorite sport.

Will it happen?

Some answers may come Monday, when area skateboarders go before County Parks and Recreation Division officials at the parks and recreation offices in Oakland Park. Skaters and their supporters will present their ideas to department director Larry Lietzke and Jim Clark, County Parks and Recreation superintendent of planning and design.

Workers at B.C. Surf and Sport in Fort Lauderdale have taken an active role in the cause. And in an attempt to convince officials of the safety and popularity of skateboard ramps, area skateboarders say they have gotten the backing of Virginia Beach, Va.

Virginia Beach is home to four public skateboard ramps, many pleased skateboarders and, according to Mike Magill of B.C. Surf and Sport, few problems.

``We`re bringing in videotapes of Virginia Beach contests and ramps,`` Magill said. ``In the past year, Virginia Beach has reported one broken collarbone, one broken arm and one broken finger.

``So they`ve had success with the ramps they`ve built. They`ve held pro contests there and attracted big crowds. And their population is smaller than Fort Lauderdale`s. We should have at least one skateboarding facility here.

``We have the specs on what we`re looking for: a 9 1/2-foot transition, 1/2- foot vertical, 8-foot platform, 3-foot wide channel, 32 feet wide and 14 feet of flat bottom. Plywood construction. That`s what we`d like to have. We might settle for something less wide, but not by much.``

Those and other specifications will be presented to county officials at 4:30 p.m. Monday.

``We hear from special-interest groups frequently and we try to accomodate them with what is already available at our parks or currently on the drawing board,`` Clark said. ``At the moment, we don`t have the funds to go into this type venture without deferring something else already planned. We would look for some type of compromise. We could incorporate something if it is not too elaborate or does not require a large investment. We`ll try to accomodate them. . . but everything is a matter of priority.``

Bruce Cromartie, owner of B.C. Surf and Sport, is optimistic that a ramp will be built.

``Hopefully we`ll get support and soon have a safe facility for skateboarding,`` said Cromartie.

``There are lot of kids skateboarding, so it makes sense that there be some facility for them.``

OAKLAND PARK REGISTRATION

Registration is being held for a 6-foot-and-under basketball league for males 18 and under. Register at the Sunland Park Gym, 2-8 p.m. weekdays.

The league tentatively plans to begin play Tuesday, Feb. 11. Games will be held Tuesdays and Thursdays.

Registration is also being held at Sunland Park for a church co-ed Wednesday volleyball league to begin play at Sunland Park on Feb. 12. Registration is open weekdays from 2 to 8 p.m.